The European Equestrian Federation promotes the growth and accessibility of equestrian sport across Europe, with horse welfare as its guiding principle.
The European Equestrian Federation (EEF) was established in 2009 to promote equestrianism and its best practices across Europe. Representing national federations from across the continent, the EEF works closely with the FEI to shape the development of equestrian sport at the highest levels — advocating for welfare standards, accessibility, and the long-term sustainability of the sport.
Horse welfare sits at the heart of the EEF's mission, making it a natural point of reference for the work the Fredricson Foundation champions. The EEF was represented on the FEI's Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission, contributing to the landmark 2023 report and its 30 recommendations for safeguarding the welfare of horses in sport.
Sweden is actively represented in this work. Henrik Ankarcrona, Sweden's national Chef d'Équipe for show jumping, has been appointed chair of the EEF Working Group on Jumping — placing Sweden at the heart of European discussions about the future of show jumping and the welfare standards that should guide it.
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Two days. One shared goal: advancing horse welfare through science, education and practice. Join leading international experts at the Horse Welfare Summit 2026, where Dr Andrew McLean will deliver two keynote lectures and receive the Professor Ingvar Fredricson Foundation Scholarship.
A new review examines how smartphones are becoming genuine tools for monitoring a horse's soundness, heart rate and recovery, and even for meeting international competition requirements. Among the systems it highlights is Sleip, co-founded by Dr. Elin Hernlund, one of the Foundation's own scholarship recipients, whose work builds on decades of Swedish equine biomechanics research going back to Professor Ingvar Fredricson himself.
On November 2, visitors gathered in Hall B at the Jönköping Horse Show for the Professor Ingvar Fredricson Foundation’s 2025 scholarship ceremony, celebrating groundbreaking Swedish research in equine biomechanics. From the pioneering efforts of the 1970s—when high‑speed cameras and manual measurements were the researcher’s tools—to today’s AI‑powered motion analysis and robotic hoof simulators, the audience was taken on a journey through decades of innovation. Professors Lars Roepstorff and Marie Rhodin, together with Associate Professor Elin Hernlund, shared their latest breakthroughs, followed by live demonstrations showing how AI and high‑precision sensors are transforming the understanding of horse–rider interaction. Moderator Jens Fredricson guided the dialogue and inspired exchange between researchers, while post‑event discussions with attendees helped build valuable bridges between research and practice.
The FEI's guardian framework resonates with the work we champion at the Professor Fredricson Foundation. Advancing equestrian sport means placing the horse's welfare and wellbeing at the center — not as an afterthought, but as the foundation upon which all excellence is built.